Comments Off on Ladies Auto Know…This Year, Make a Resolution for Your Car!

With a new year comes new resolutions. We want to work out more, eat healthier, spend more time with our family, etc. For most of us, these are pledges that are hard to live by. How about this year you make one that’s not just beneficial for yourself, but for the vehicle you can’t really live without. By spending a little time now on preventative maintenance, you really can save a lot of headaches and stress in the long run, making for an easy year on the road.

“Regular auto care shouldn’t be one of those New Year’s resolutions that goes by the wayside,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Preventative vehicle maintenance pays off all year, every year.”

Naturally, we tend to get overwhelmed when attempting to keep up with the goals we set for ourselves, especially when it comes to preventative car maintenance because we immediately see dollar signs. But fear not, that doesn’t have to be the case…I have put together a simple checklist to keep you organized all year long. It’s easy to follow, and as any technician would tell you, if you take care of your car, it will take care of YOU, throughout the entire year.

Perform monthly checks of tire pressure and the condition of tires, lights and windshield washer fluid. Look in the owner’s manual or on the inside of the driver’s door for the standard cold tire inflation pressure. If your tires have worn unevenly, or your wheels are unbalanced, vibration can cause excess stress on suspension components. Excess stress on certain car parts could mean extra trips to us and a potentially hefty car repair bill. This can be avoided by checking that your tire tread is wearing evenly, and bringing it in if it’s not.

Keep your car clean in 2014! This is actually a easy (FREE) thing you can do. Excess dirt and grime can act like sand paper, creating abrasions that wear down upholstery and carpeting. Vacuum your vehicle on a regular basis and wipe down surfaces with a gentle cleaner. This also keeps you aware of problem spots inside, allowing you to get things repaired before they get worse.

Every 3 months (or per your vehicle’s owner’s manual) schedule an appointment with Linear Automotive for a full service oil change. At this time our experienced technicians can check the fluids, battery and cables, belts, hoses and filters. This may seem a bit obsessive to you, but preventative maintenance at the hands of our ASE certified mechanics is really just cheap insurance. Routine oil changes shouldn’t take more than an hour, so you can relax and watch TV in our comfortable waiting area, or take advantage of the Wi-Fi and get some work done.

Every six months, or 6,000 miles, the chassis lubrication should be checked and windshield wipers should be replaced.

Keep up with your vehicle’s fluid changes. This is EXTREMELY important. Staying on top of this is key to your car’s longevity. While some fluids don’t require frequent attention such as the oil, they are still just as important. This is another thing we can check on your next oil change.

Every 12 months or 12,000 miles, the brakes, spark plugs, coolant and steering/suspension should be checked.

Address any and all minor problems EARLY! This may be the easiest thing to overlook, but you will suffer some major consequences down the road. Literally. I know how easy it is to hear a strange noise in your vehicle, but then turn up the radio and hope it goes away. This is rarely the case. Don’t put off the easy repair work. Bite the bullet, fix what’s wrong and your car will last much longer.